First Report of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus kolymensis Associated with Pinus sylvestris in Serbia.

Bursaphelenchus mucronatus kolymensis (Korentchenko) Braasch et al. (1), also referred to as the European type of B. mucronatus, is morphologically very similar to the pine wood nematode (PWN) B. xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle, the causal agent of pine wilt disease. The main morphological difference between the two species is the shape of the female tail mucro (3); however, some populations of PWN vary in mucro shape, which can lead to misidentification. Since PWN was found and identified for the first time in Portugal in 1999 (4), concern about the spread of PWN to pines and other conifers all over Europe has increased. Therefore, the PWN survey in every European country is essential. In 2011, the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management implemented phytosanitary measures for detection of PWN in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. In September 2013, wood samples were collected from a 40-year-old wilted Pinus sylvestris located on Divcibare Mountain, western Serbia. Nematodes were extracted by a modified Baermann funnel method. Nematode specimens (10 females and 10 males) were characterized by an Aphelenchoid-type esophagus, female vulva flap, mucro on the end of female tail, and males with paired arcuate spicules. Morphological identification matched that of B. mucronatus kolymensis (1). The specific morphometric evidence for this European type subspecies of B. mucronatus was sub-cylindrical female tail with mucro 3 to 4 µm long, digitate, well offset from tail (5). Species identification was confirmed by PCR-RFLP of the rDNA ITS region using one female and one male nematode separately (2). The sizes of restricted DNA fragments as determined with agarose gel and capillary electrophoresis were in compliance with reported data in the literature (2,4) and support the identification of the nematode as B. mucronatus kolymensis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of any species belonging to Bursaphelenchus genus in Serbia. The presence of B. mucronatus kolymensis in Serbia indicates the possibility of establishment and spread of PWN. Therefore, the measures taken in case of PWN occurrence should be prepared and training foresters to identify pine wilt disease symptoms should be encouraged in Serbia. References: (1) H. Braasch et al. J. Nematode Morphol. Syst. 14:77, 2011. (2) W. Burgermeister et al. Nematology 11:649, 2009. (3) Y. Mamiya and N. Enda. Nematologica 25:353, 1979. (4) M. M. Mota et al. Nematology 1:727, 1999. (5) M. M. Mota and P. Vieira. Page 146 in: Pine Wilt Disease: A Worldwide Threat to Forest Ecosystems. Springer Science and Business Media, 2008.

Home matters: work and household predictors of smoking and cessation among blue-collar workers.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the joint influence of work- and household-related variables on smoking behavior among a population representative sample of blue-collar workers with live-in partners. METHODS: The study used data on 1389 blue-collar workers from the Tobacco Use Supplement to the United States Current Population Survey 2002 to 2003 longitudinal overlap sample. Unadjusted and adjusted logistical regression analyses, which employed sampling and replicate weights to account for sampling design, were run to estimate independent and joint effects of the predictors. RESULTS: In adjusted analyses, partner smoking (OR=4.97, 95%CI=3.02-8.18) and complete and partial home smoking policy (OR=0.16, 95%CI=0.09-0.29 and OR=0.39, 95%CI=0.23-0.68, respectively) were significant predictors of smoking status, but worksite smoking policies and presence of a young child under 5 in the household were not (p>0.05). Baseline complete home smoking ban was a significant predictor of subsequent cessation (OR=3.49, 95%CI=1.19-10.23), while partner smoking status, workplace smoking policy, and the presence of a young child in the home did not predict cessation (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Household-related variables were significant predictors of smoking status and cessation among blue-collar workers. Current efforts to decrease smoking in this group, which are mostly focused on work-related risk factors, should consider how to incorporate household risk factors.

Passive cooling during transport of asphyxiated term newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of passive cooling during transport of asphyxiated newborns. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review of newborns with perinatal asphyxia transported for hypothermia between July 2007 and June 2010. RESULT: Of 43 newborns transported, 27 were passively cooled without significant adverse events. Twenty (74%) passively cooled newborns arrived with temperature between 32.5 and 34.5 °C. One newborn arrived with a temperature <32.5, and 6 (22%) had temperatures >34.5 °C. Time from birth to hypothermia was significantly shorter among passively cooled newborns compared with newborns not cooled (215 vs 327 min, P<0.01), even though time from birth to admission to Boston Children's Hospital was similar (252 vs 259 min, P=0.77). Time from birth to admission was the only significant predictor of increased time to reach target temperature (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Exclusive passive cooling achieves significantly earlier initiation of effective hypothermia for asphyxiated newborns but should not delay transport for active cooling.

Mathematical analysis of dynamic spread of Pine Wilt disease.

Since its detection in Portugal in 1999, the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer), a causal agent of Pine Wilt Disease, represents a threat to European forestry. Significant amount of money has been spent on its monitoring and eradication. This paper presents mathematical analysis of spread of pine wilt disease using a set of partial differential equations with space (longitude and latitude) and time as parameters of estimated spread of disease. This methodology can be used to evaluate risk of various assumed entry points of disease and make defense plans in advance. In case of an already existing outbreak, it can be used to draw optimal line of defense and plan removal of trees. Optimization constraints are economic loss of removal of susceptible trees as well as budgetary constraints of workforce cost.

Contribution to the history of plastic and reconstructive surgery from Dubrovnik and split during the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.

Medieval contracts for medical treatment are, without doubt, evidence of proper and adequate insight into the quality of operations performed centuries ago. Historical archives in Dalmatian cities have preserved a certain number of such contracts. Their contents assist in better understanding our historical heritage. This paper submits contracts, kept in Dubrovnik and Split, for the operation of inguinal hernia. A case depicting a defective palate treated by Amatus Lusitanus, who lived in Dubrovnik from 1555 to 1558, is also presented.

Screening for Down's syndrome and neural tube defect in Croatia. A regional prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency of second-trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome and open neural tube defects using alpha-fetoprotein and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin as serum markers. METHODS: 3, 188 women underwent testing between 14th and 22nd week of pregnancy. Of all tested patients, 25.4% were >/=35 years old. A cut-off risk of >/=1:250 for Down's syndrome and MS-AFP >/=2.0 MoM for open neural tube defect were considered screen-positive. RESULTS: The detection rate for Down's syndrome was 77.8% (7/9) with 8.2% screen-positive rate (7.9% false-positive rate). When evaluated separately, in patients younger than 35 and in those >/=35 years old, the screen-positive rates were 3.1 and 23.3%, respectively. A total of 52 (1.6%) were found screen-positive for open neural tube defect; 2 cases of encephalocela and 1 case of gastroschisis were confirmed prenatally. CONCLUSION: The respectable number of cases with trisomy 21 identified in this study confirms that routine mid-trimester screening for Down's syndrome including MS-AFP, free beta-hCG and maternal age is useful in identifying pregnancies at increased risk.

Master Samuel Ebrej ophthalmic surgeon of Dubrovnik and contracts relating to medical services dating from 1414.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Dubrovnik maintained active and regular commercial and maritime contacts with various cities and states of the Mediterranean. These activities led to the organisation of a health care system and the development of medicine. With respect to the economic, commercial and maritime aspects of the culture of this city state, Dubrovnik became open to the civilising progress of the region and period. The brief visit of the Mediaeval ophthalmologist, Master Samuel Ebrej supports this fact.

Effects of (DesGly9-Arg8) vasopressin on cognitive processes in alcoholic patients.

The effect of intranasally administered (DesGly9-Arg8) vasopressin (DGAVP) on certain aspects of cognitive functions of alcoholic patients was studied. The investigation was carried out in 103 chronic alcoholic patients. None of the patients suffered from Korsakoff's syndrome, portal encephalopathy or brain damage of other etiology. The trial was double-blind, placebo controlled. Psychological testing, which included certain aspects of attention, short-term and long-term memory and spatial orientation, was carried out on the day before (baseline measurements), on the last day (II), and seven days after the last administration of DGAVP (III). No treatment effect of DGAVP was observed. The results show that investigations with humans are infinitely more complex than those with animals, since a number of physiological and socio-psychological factors must be controlled. In this study of alcoholics two such factors: 1) duration of abstinence and 2) adaptation to test situation were identified.